Shoe and shoe sole and shank stiffener therefor



June 24,193.0.v R. B. BARTELS l 17,766,479"` SHOE AND SHOE SOLE ANO SHANK STIFFENER THEREFOR Filed Jan. 12.. 1928 Cffff-:SESE ifE71111111111111lll/11111111111'IIIA the innersole prior to the lasting operation,

Patented 'June 24, 193@ i srar PA FE REINHARD B. BARTELS, OF MLROSE, 'MASSACHUSETTS SHGE AND SHOE AND SHANK STIFFNER THEREFOR Application. med January 12, i928. serial no. ciales.

This invention relates to the sole portion of shoes, more particularly to the stitiening it would interfere with the action of the grippers by which the 'upper is pulled over .the last during the lasting operation According to the present invention the stitener'is incorporated in a sole member,"

preferably the innersole. Where it is incorporated in the innersole this may be done before the innersoleis attached to the last and it may be so formed as vtocause the upper face of the innersoleto be upwardly arched transversely at the proper place to form a metatarsal arch support. If it is desired to form a very stiff shank a supplemental stiener may* be appliedto the lower face of the innersole or to `the'inner face of the outer sole after the lasting operation in the usual manner. I

For a more complete understanding of l this invention referencemay be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective showing the stiener in place on. the lower layer or laminated or split innersole, the upper layer -being turned back.

Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal vertical sections through the sole with the stilener therein before and after the molding operations; respectively.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a shoe partly in section showing beside the reinforcedinnersole an additional shank stiiener.

Figure 5 is a sesion' on line 5--5 of Figure3. i

Referring to these' drawings, 1 indicates a ysole member which in the embodiment shown is an innersole for a McKay shoe, though it should be understood that it may be the sole of a'welt shoe,l or in the broader aspects of this invention it may be an outer sole. As shownthe rear portion of this innersole is shown laminated, having the two layers 2' and 3. These laminations may be entirely separate and cemented or otherwise Xed together at their forepart or they maye be formed integral` by splitting the rear portion of the sole inwardly along a plane between its upper and lower faces and to a point preferably somewhat forwardly ofthe'breakline of the shoe as indicated at 4. The upper lamination being turned back,

a stiii'ener plate, preferably`in the form of a at steel blank or plate asf at 5 is inserted between the laminations, and the upper lamination is then returned to a position overlying the lower lamination and is preferably cemented or otherwisefixed in place.v l

member between its upper and lower faces. lVhile the stifener plate 5 may be held in position solely by the means which attaches the two laminations together,- it may be attached if desired to either one or both of the klaminations. As shown it is provided with prongs at the points 6, 7 .and 8 which :may be driven into and clinched in one of the laminations, as the lower laminationQ, lthus to fix the stitfener 5 to "this lamination. Attachment of the stiflener in this manner prevents any possibility of the plate slipping from its proper position after its insertion.

Preferably the plate is flat when placed .in

position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and after it is incorporated in the sole member the sole member and the stiifener are molded together to the desired contour.

lThe plate isfthus incorporated in thevsole As shown in 'Figures 3 and 5, this contour may comprise an upwardly arched longitudina curve at the -shankportion 10 and at its' extreme forward end a laterally arched portion as at 11 shaped and positioned to cause the upper face of the innersole to'form a metatarsal arch support for the foot of the wearer. The stiffness 'of this plate `5 when thus `molded to shape may berelied upon entirely to produce the proper stiffness of the shank, or if it is desired to produce an extremely stiff shank, the shank portion of the shoe may be further reinforced by a shank stiffener located between the inner and outer soles as shown at 15 in Figure 4.` This shank stiener located between thesoles acts also to center the outersole laterally of the shoe. By dividing the stiiening action between a portion within the innersole and a portion beetween the inner and outersoles, both the advantage of a shaped sole form to which the upper may be lasted and a centering unction for the outersole are secured. Y

Where the stiiener is incorporated in the innersole it does not protrude from the lower face lof the innersole'to interfere with the action of the rippers commonly eml loyed in la t e upper over the sole, m5 g uring the ting operation, and yet it makes possible the reinforcing of the shank portion prior-to the fixing of the innersole on theA last, so that its proper shaping to I the -desired contour prior to the lasting operation may be insured. Y x

Having thus described certain embodiments of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled in the' art that various c nges and modifications might be made therein without'departing from its spirit orl sccpe as defined by the appended claim. A claim: j l A shoe having i'nner andouter soles, said innersole being laminated, a plate between sald laminatlons shaped to roduce an upwardly convexv face to saidp innersole and positioned to form a metatarsal arch support, and a. shank reinforcement between said soles underlying said late. i

4 testimony whereof have aixedmy signature.

REINHARD B. BARTELS. 

